Productivity / Performance

Divorce’s effect on the workplace

10/29/2018

One of the most intense employee stressors often goes unmentioned. What sort of toll is divorce taking on someone who works for you?

Beware the 4-month slump

10/13/2018

Most people start a job with a bounce in their step and a gleam of eagerness in their eyes. But after four months or so on the job, most employees feel the job isn’t that interesting, challenging or rewarding. What does this mean for a supervisor?

Most like music at work, cite greater productivity

09/25/2018

Silence may be golden, but most workers feel they’re more productive at the office when listening to music, new research from staffing firm Accountemps shows.

Disability is no excuse for poor performance

09/17/2018

Disabled workers are entitled to reasonable accommodations that allow them to perform the essential functions of their jobs. However, accommodations must be related to the disability. They can’t serve as an excuse not to perform essential job functions.

Oh, no! They shoved a ‘weak link’ on my team

09/14/2018

An employee with a history of poor performance is transferred to your department. What do you do? Here’s a systematic approach to helping an employee with a checkered track record get up and running in your department.

Taking a chance on barely qualified applicant? Prepare to document any shortcomings

09/03/2018

You may be tempted to take a chance on hiring someone who doesn’t have the exact experience or education you usually look for. But be careful. If you end up having to terminate the employee, be prepared to show exactly why he wasn’t meeting your standards.

Burnout! Four main causes of employee stress, and what you can do about it

08/24/2018

You’ve put in the long hours to build a relationship with your team, and to better understand their strengths, weaknesses, motivators and goals for the future. While these are all key components to a successful relationship with your staff, it’s for naught if you can’t proactively prevent employee burnout.

Productivity growth hits 3-year high

08/21/2018

Worker productivity grew at its fastest pace in three years during the second quarter of 2018.

When a previously good performer starts to slide, carefully document decline

08/06/2018

When an employer fires a worker for poor performance and the worker sues alleging some sort of discrimination, the employer must be ready to explain any apparent decline in its performance appraisals. That’s especially true if the worker previously received excellent reviews.

Counseling, all by itself, isn’t an adverse action

07/14/2018

Do you use some form of counseling or peer review to help employees improve their performance? If so, make sure it isn’t tied directly to punishment such as demotion or termination.